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Members  of  the  Board. 

o£1838.^o 


REV.  DIEDRICH  WILLERS, 

REV.  ELIAS  HEIN  ER, 

REV.  BERNARD  C.  WOLFF, 

REV.  JOHN  CARES, 

REV.  SAMUEL  GUTELIUS, 

REV.  JOSEPH  F.  BERG, 

REV.  SAMUEL  R.  FISHER. 

ELDER  JOHN  J.  MAYER, 

ELDER  MATTHEW  SHAW, 

ELDER  DANIEL  BUCKEY, 

ELDER  JOHN  B.  SEI DENSTRICKER, 
ELDER  BURCHERT  MAYER. 


THE  COMMAND. 

“Go  ye  into  all  the  world,  and  preach  the  Qospel  to 
every  creature.” 


HISTORIC  MANUAL 

— DF THE— 

BOARD  OF  COMMISSIONERS, 

FOR  FOREIGN  MISSIONS, 

—  DF  THE— 

REFORMED  CHURCH  IN  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

- o - 

Grace  be  Unto  you,  and  Peace,  from  God  our  Father,  and 
from  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Amen. 

Dear  Pastors  and  People: — 

The  Board  of  Foreign  Missions,  issues 
this  Memorial  Pamphlet,  in  this,  its  Year  of  Jubilee,  with  the 
earnest  wish,  that  it  may  help  to  revive  the  precious  memories  of 
the  past,  and  improve  the  golden  opportunities  of  the  present. 
We  believe,  that  a  few  facts  about  the  origin  and  growth  of  the 
Foreign  Missionary  work  of  our  church  will  feed  the  sacred  flame 
of  love  for  missions  in  our  hearts. 

Let  the  heralds  of  the  truth,  proclaim  in  trumpet  tones,  at  the 
Memorial  services  to  be  held  in  the  month  of  November,  the  rise 
and  progress  of  our  work  among  the  heathen,  for  “the  Lord  hath 
done  great  things,  whereof  we  are  glad.” 

It  is  true,  we  cannot  boast  of  a  separate  mission  in  the  foreign 
field,  until  ten  years  ago,  but  we  carried  on  the  work  for  forty  years 
previously,  by  giving  our  men  and  means  to  other  Missionary  soci¬ 
eties. 

The  Reformed  Church  has  always  been  imbued  with  the  spirit 
of  missions,  and  in  loyal  response  to  the  royal  command  of  the 
Master,  she  has  ever  laid  her  offering  on  the  altar  for  the  evangeli- 


2 


zation  of  the  world.  All]true  mission  work  must  begin  in  the  heart- 
at  home.  If  it  do  not  begin  at  home,  it  will  not'convert  the  world. 
Ere  our  Church  could  carry  the  Gospel  to  the  heathen  in  distant 
lands,  she  had  to  provide  for  her  destitute  children  at  home.  She 
had  to  strengthen  her  stakes  before  she  could  lengthen  her  cords. 


Rev.  Diedrich  Willers,  D.  D.,  First  President  of  the  Board. 
It  must  ever  be  borne  in  mind,  that  we  had  but  few  ministers  and  a 
people  of  limited  means,  to  establish  the  “Church  of  our  Fathers”  in 
the  new  world,  and  herein  lies  the  secret,  why  the  Board  of  For¬ 
eign  Missions’celebrates  its  /Semi-Centennial  instead  of  its  Centennial 
in  1888. 


3 

The  Organization  of  the  Board. 

On  the  29th  day  of  September,  in  the  year  1838,  the  Board  of 
Home  Missions  held  its  annual  meeting  during  the  sessions  of  the 
Synod  of  the  United  States,  in  Lancaster,  Pa.  It  is  an  interesting 
fact,  that  the  suggestion  to  organize  a  Foreign  Missionary  Board  came 
from  the  Home  Missionary  Society.  There  was  no  opposition  to 
it  on  the  part  of  the  brethren.  The  God  of  Missions  was  working 
in  the  soul  of  that  synodical  body,  for  immediately  upon  the  forma¬ 
tion  of  the  Foreign  Board,  five  ministers  arose  and  signified  their 
willingness  to  sustain  a  missionary  of  the  cross  in  heathen  lands. 
The  names  of  these  servants  of  God  and  the  amount  given  are  as 
follows : — 


Rev.  Elias  Heiner,  Baltimore,  Md . $120  00 

Rev.  Joseph  F.  Berg,  Philadelphia,  Pa . $120  00 

Rev.  Bernard  C.  Wolff,  Easton,  Pa . $120  00 

Rev.  Daniel  Zacharias,  Frederick,  Md . $120  00 

Rev.  Daniel  Ziegler,  York,  Pa . $120  00 


These  fathers  have  all  fallen  asleep  in  Jesus,  but  their  works  do 
follow  them.  “The  Lord  our  God  be  with  us  as  He  was  with  our 
fathers,”  and  help  us  to  carry  on  the  great  work,  so  that  it  may  not 
be  said  to  our  shame,  “They  began  to  build  but  were  not  able  to 
finish  it.” 

The  First  Constitution. 

From  the  Constitution,  we  gather  the  following  facts  : — 

1.  The  object  of  the  Board,  is  to  accelerate  the  Gospel  of 
Christ  among  the  heathen  by  means  of  preaching  the  Gospel,  teach¬ 
ing  of  schools  and  the  printing  press. 

2.  The  Board  shall  consist  of  twelve  members,  and  they  shall  be 
ministers  and  elders  of  the  Church. 

3.  Fifty  dollars,  paid  at  one  time,  shall  constitute  the.  donor  or 
the  person  for  whom  the  amount  is  paid,  an  Honorary  membey 
of  the  Board  for  life. 


4 


Members  of  the  Board  1838. 


Rev.  Diedrich  Willers, 
Rev.  Bernard  C.  Wolff, 
Rev.  Samuel  Gutelius, 
Rev.  Samuel  R.  Fisher, 
Elder  Matthew  Shaw, 


Rev.  Elias  Heiner, 
Rev.  John  Cares, 
Rev.  Joseph  Berg, 


Elder  John  B.  Seidenstricker 


Elder  John  J.  Mayer, 
Elder  Daniel  Buckey, 
Elder  Burchert  Mayer. 


A  Good  Beginning. 


The  Synod  made  a  good  beginning.  The  delegates  not  only 
spoke  in  favor  of  a  Foreign  Missionary  Board,  but  they  gave  $945.00 
towards  the  new  cause. 

Why  did  the  Synod  then  and  there  resolve  to  organize  a  Board 
of  Foreign  Missions  ?  A  simple  answer  would  be,  because  the  time 
had  come  to  do  so.  The  Church  was  ripe  for  it.  But  we  find  a 
deeper  cause  in  the  mighty  influence  of  the  wonderful  work  of  the 
Rev.  Benjamin  Schneider,  D.  D.,  at  Broosa,  in  Asia  Minor.  In  his 
effort  to  lead  the  heathen  to  Jesus ,  he  led  our  C  hurch  to  the  heathen. 
We  do  well  to  record  the  outlines  of  his  life,  so  full  of  earnest  toil 
and  eminent  success. 

Life  and  Work  of  Rev.  Benjamin  Schneider. 

He  was  born  at  New  Hanover,  Montgomery  County,  Pa.,  on 
the  18th  day  of  January,  1807,  near  the  old  “Lang  Schwamm,,  Re¬ 
formed  Church,  of  which  his  father  was  a  devout  elder  for  many 
years. 

At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  left  home  to  begin  his  studies  in  the 
Academy  at  Norristown,  Pa.,  under  the  care  of  the  Rev.  James  C. 
How.  Here,  he  not  only  grew  in  wisdom,  but  also  in  grace.  He 
,  became  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

After  pursuing  a  regular  course  in  Amherst  College  and  in  the 
Andover  Theological  Seminary,  he  was  solemnly  set  apart  for  his 
future  life-work,  “the  ministry  of  reconciliation,”  by  the  New  Castle 
Presbytery. 


5 

In  the  early  part  of  his  course,  he  thought  of  laboring  in  the 
Church  of  his  fathers  in  his  native  state,  but  during  his  residence 
at  Andover  he  heard  the  cry,  “Come  over  and  help  us,”  and  he  re¬ 
plied  :  “Here  am  I,  send  me.”  In  a  letter  to  his  first  preceptor  he 
writes :  “I  am  deeply  sensible  of  my  inadequacy  to  so  great  a  work ; 
still,  if  my  services  can  be  useful,  I  shall  be  happy  in  dedicating 
them  to  so  noble  and  so  glorious  a  cause.” 

In  the  year  1833,  on  the  15th  of  September,  Rev.  Benjamin 
Schneider  was  married  to  Miss  Eliza  C.  Abbott,  of  Framingham, 
Mass.,  who  was  a  pious,  intelligent  and  energetic  lady.  The  same 
year,  December  12th,  they  sailed  from  Boston  for  Turkey  to  com¬ 
mence  his  missionary  work  under  the  auspices  of  the  American 
Board  of  Commissioners  of  Foreign  Missions.  His  first  field  of 
labor  was  at  Broosa,  in  Asia  Minor,  where  he  spent  about  fifteen 
years. 

In  1849  he  was  sent  to  Aintab,  where  he  was  very  successful  in 
founding  congregations,  in  training  a  large  number  of  young  men 
for  the  Christian  ministry,  and  in  preaching  the  Gospel  to  the  mul¬ 
titudes. 

Whilst  on  a  visit  to  America,  in  1856,  Rev.  Schneider  received 
the  sad  intelligence  of  the  death  of  his  wife  at  Aintab.  In  obedience 
to  the  wishes  of  the  A.  B.  C.  F.  Missions,  he  did  not  return  until 
the  year  1858.  During  this  time  he  married  Miss  Susan  M.  Abbott, 
a  sister  of  his  first  wife,  a  lady  qualified  in  every  respect  to  be  a 
true  help-meet  in  his  arduous  labors. 

In  1875  Dr.  Schneider  was  sent  to  Marsovan,  Turkey,  to  have 
charge  of  the  Theological  Seminary.  On  reaching  that  city  he 
found  thousands  of  famine-stricken  people.  One  hundred  and  fifty 
thousand  persons  of  all  ages  perished  by  famine  in  a  district  not 
larger  than  Pennsylvania.  It  was  among  these  dreadful  scenes  that 
his  health  gave  way.  He  was  attacked  with  softening  of  the  brain. 
At  the  close  of  1876  he  was  taken  to  Switzerland  by  his  devoted 


0 


\ 


Rev.  Benjamin  Schneider,  D.  D.,  a  Foreign  Missionary  for 

Forty-two  Years. 

wife  with  the  hope  of  regaining  his  health,  but  the'kSwiss  physicians 
told  her  to  hasten  with  him  to  this  country.  She  brought  him  for 
a  few  weeks  to  the  hospitable  home  of  Elder  Rudolph  F.  Kelker 
at  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  then  took  him  to  Boston,  where  he  died  Septem¬ 
ber  14,  1877,  aged  70  years,  7  months  and  23  days. 

Dr.  Schneider  was  a  true  missionary.  No  one  could  come  in 
contact  with  him  without  discovering  that  his  soul  was  all  aglow 
with  the  fire  of  missions.  For  more  than  forty  years,  he  was  la- 


7 

boring  in  almost  every  department  of  missionary  service;  in 
preaching,  which  was  ever  his  delight ;  in  translating,  and  in  pre¬ 
paring  young  men  for  the  ministry  in  their  own  land.  He  was  a 
mighty  man  in  prayer.  He  had  his  times  for  prayer  and  they  were 
sacred.  The  savor  of  his  prayers  was  in  his  preaching.  Here  was 
in  fact  the  secret  of  his  success  in  preaching — his  life  was  a  life  of 
prayer.  He  had  a  wonderful  gift  for  languages.  He  spoke  the 
English,  the  German,  the  Greek  and  the  Turkish,  with  an  ease  and 
fluency  as  if  each  were  his  vernacular.  But  with  all  his  attain¬ 
ments,  he  had  the  spirit  of  a  little  child. 

“He  did  not  seek  the  honor  which  cometh  from  men,  but  that 
which  cometh  from  God,  and  the  satisfaction  of  his  own  conscience 
in  the  line  of  duty.  In  fact  his  heaviest  work  has  been  silent,  but 
when  the  result  shall  be  brought  out  on  the  day  of  revelation,  more 
will  be  seen  than  is  known  now.  His  life  was  an  exhibition  of 
earnestness  without  ostentation,  toil  without  display  and  en¬ 
durance  without  murmuring.” 

He  Returns  to  His  Mother  Church. 

This  man  of  God  was  born  in  the  bosom  of  our  Church,  but 
he  had  been  separated  from  us  (ecclesiastically)  for  a  season. 

How  and  when  did  he  return  to  our  church  f  Let  us  see. 

After  the  organization  of  the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions,  efforts 
were  made  to  procure  missionaries  for  the  foreign  field,  but  with¬ 
out  success.  The  question  then  arose,  what  particular  mission  shall 
receive  the  aid  of  our  Church  ?  There  was  but  one  answer  to  the 
inquiry :  “If  Brother  Schneider,  who  is  ‘flesh  of  our  flesh  and 
bone  of  our  bone,’  will  transfer  his  membership  from  the  Pres¬ 
byterian  to  our  Church,  the  funds  shall  go  to  the  support  of  the 
Mission  at  Broosa.” 

In  1840,  a  proposition  was  made  to  the  New  Castle  Presbytery, 
but  the  brethren  were  loath  to  part  with  their  faithful  missionary, 


8 


as  was  also  the  missionary  to  part  fromTthe  Presbytery.  “But,” 
said  the  Presbytery,  after  due  and  prayerful  consideration  of  the 
whole  subject,  “if  it  will  be  for  the  interest  of  Christ’s  kingdom, 
and  advance  the  Foreign  Mission  cause  in  the  German  Reformed 
Church,  we  are  willing  that  it  shall  be  made.”  The  transfer 
was  made  in  the  year  1845,  and  until  the  year  1864,  our  Church 
was  a  regular  contributor  to  the  American  Board  for  the  Central 
Turkey  Mission.  From  that  time  on,  the  subject  of  Foreign  Mis¬ 
sions  took  a  deeper  hold  in  the  hearts  of  the  people,  and  became 
an  inestimable  joy  and  blessing  to  many  who  have  since  fallen 
asleep. 


A  Gift  From  the  Schwenkf elders. 

It  is  pleasant  to  note  that  in  the  year  1845,  the  Schwenkfel- 
ders,  a  society  of  Christians  of  Montgomery  county,  Pa.,  contrib¬ 
uted  $273  for  the  support  of  the  Mission  at  Broosa.  This  contri¬ 
bution  was  made,  no  doubt,  as  a  mark  of  esteem  for  and  confidence 
in  Missionary  Schneider. 

Dr.  Schneider’s  Visit  to  America, 

In  1852,  the  Synod  agreed  to  ask  the  Rev.  Benjamin  Schneider 
to  visit  the  Reformed  Churches  in  this  country  at  its  expense. 
In  1856,  after  an  absence  of  twenty- three  years,  Brother 
Schneider  returned  in  safety  to  his  native  land  and  to  the  bosom 
of  the  Church  of  his  fathers.  During  his  sojourn  in  America, 
he  traveled  more  than  fifteen  thousand  miles  and  addressed  Mis¬ 
sionary  meetings  three  hundred  times.  His  venerable  presence  and 
burning  addresses  had  a  happy  effect  on  the  contributions  of  the 
Church.  The  people  took  more  interest  in  the  Broosa  Mission. 

Our  Aid  to  the  Broosa  and  Aintab  Mission. 

Although  we  did  not  have  the  Central  Turkey  Mission  under 
our  care,  yet  the  Church  sent  her  contributions  to  the  A.  B.  C.  F. 
Missions,  towards  the  support  of  Rev,  Dr.  Schneider,  from  October 
13th  1840  to  October  9th  1865,  just  25  years,  as  follows: 


9 


For  the  support  of  the  Mission  work  in  Turkey . 

To  build  the  First  Protestant  Church  in  Aintab . 

To  build  and  support  of  the  Second  Church  in  Aintab 
To  a  library  for  the  native  pastor  of  the  First  Church. 
For  the  suffering  Syrians . 


$25,703  38 
1,324  25 
697  97 
50  00 
71  00 


$27,846  60 


Traveling  expenses  of  Rev.  Dr.  Schneider  visiting  the 
Reformed  Churches  while  in  this  country . 


140  39 


Total . $27,986  99 

The  foundation  for  the  great  missionary  work  in  Turkey,  to  a 
great  extent,  was  laid  by  Rev.  Benjamin  Schneider,  D.  D.,  a  minister 
of  the  Reformed  Church.  The  American  Board  has  never  made 


any  special  acknowledgment  of  the  fact  that  our  Church  furnished 
such  a  valuable  missionary,  or  of  its  regular  contributions 
during  a  period  of  twenty-five  years  towards  the  Central  Turkey 
Mission.  We  do  not  crave  for  vain-glory  in  this  matter,  but  our 
people  should  know  the  record  of  the  past.  What  has  been  done, 
has  been  done  for  the  glory  of  the  dear  Redeemer  and  for  the  wel¬ 
fare  of  perishing  souls.  On  the  day  of  final  reckoning  the  Lord 
will  “set  times  past  in  present  view”  and  then  shall  every  man 
have  praise  of  God. 

The  Church  Withdraws  Its  Support  From  the 

American  Board. 

Beginning  with  1860,  the  Synod  became  dissatisfied  with  its 
way  of  helping  to  evangelize  the  heathens.  At  the  Synod  held  at 
Lebanon,  Pa.,  arrangements  were  made  to  effect  a  transfer  of  the 
control  of  the  Mission  at  Aintab  to  our  Board  of  Missions.  But 
Missionary  Schneider  as  well  as  the  American  Board  thought  this 
inexpedient. 

A  lengthy  correspondence  ensued  between  the  Hon.  R.  F. 
Kelker,  the  Treasurer  of  our  Board,  and  the  Rev.  Rufus  Anderson, 
D.  D.,  Corresponding  Secretary  of  the  American  Board,  which  will 
be  found  in  the  Report  of  the  Synod  of  1864.  We  glean  a  few  lines 
to  show  the  strong  desire  existing  in  the  hearts  of  our  brethren  to 


to 


call  the  Aintab  Mission  “our  own.”  “If  you  will  read  the  ‘Minutes 
of  1859/”  writes  Elder  Kelker,  “you  will  perceive  that  we  had  a 
strong  desire  to  have  Aintab  transferred  to  our  own  exclusive  care 
in  1859.  Since  then  no  action  has  been  taken  by  Synod  in  regard 
to  the  Aintab  field,  except  to  recommend  it  to  the  liberality  of  our 
people.  I  could  not  presume  to  say,  or  even  conjecture,  how  long 
the  relation  may  continue.”  In  1865  the  Synod  decided  to  estab¬ 
lish  a  Mission  of  our  own  and  io  cease  contributing  to  the  American 
Board.  The  last  money  was  paid  October  9th,  1865.  The  American 
Board  declined  to  surrender  Missionary  Schneider,  but  he  contin¬ 
ued  a  member  of  the  Maryland  Classis  until  the  day  of  his  death. 


EXTERIOR. 

Mission  School  Building  at  Nihon  Bashi. 

The  Dark  Period  in  our  Foreign  Mission  History. 

The  period  from  1865  to  1878  is  the  Sahara  in  our  Foreign 
Missionary  work.  No  special  interest  was  manifested  in,  and  very 
little  money  given  for,  the  spread  of  the  Gospel  among  the  heathen. 
We  may  account  for  this  sad  state  of  things  in  three  ways:  1st. 
We  had  no  Foreign  Missionary  of  our  own;  2nd.  The  Home  Mis- 


11 


sion  work  had  increased  in  onr  hands ;  and  3rd.  We  were  consum¬ 
ing  our  strength  in  an  unhappy  theological  controversy.  Verily, 

THE  WORK  OF  THE  LORD  LANGUISHES  IN  TIMES  OF  WAR. 

But  this  period  was  not  entirely  without  its  gracious  results. 
It  was  the  night  of  weeping  preceding  the  morning  of  joy.  From 
the  reports  of  the  Board  to  the  General  Synod,  it  is  evident  that 
the  church  was  not  in  a  proper  frame  of  mind  to  institute  a  separ- 


INTERIOR. 

Mission  School  Building  at  Nihon  Bashi. 

ate  Mission,  or  to  support  a  missionary  of  its  own,  and  therefore 
the  General  Synod  of  1872  directed  the  treasurer  of  the  Board  to 
pay  the  annual  interest  of  the  money  in  his  hands,  as  also  the  con¬ 
tributions  from  the  churches  after  that  date,  to  the  German  Evan¬ 
gelical  Foreign  Missionary  Society.  This  was  done  until  1875, 
when  the  Synod  resolved  to  commence  a  Mission  of  its  own. 

Our  Aid  to  the  East  India  Mission. 

The  amount  paid  to  the  German  Evangelical  Missionary 
Society  in  the  United  States  was  $979.81,  which  amount  was 
applied  to  the  support  of  Rev.  Oscar  Lohr,  a  member  of  the  New 


12 


A  Former  Residence  of  the  Lady  Missionaries  at  Sendai. 


13 


York  Classis,  and  his  associate,  the  Rev.  Jacob  Hauser,  a  member 
of  the  Sheboygan  Classis,  both  Ministers  of  the  Reformed  Church. 

Rev.  Oscar  Lohr  was  the  founder  of  the  Mission  at  Bisrampore, 
India,  and  our  Church  can  rejoice  for  contributing  in  men  and 
means  to  open  a  field  whose  future  is  most  hopeful  and  encour¬ 
aging. 

The  Mission  Among  the  Indians. 

The  Sheboygan  Classis  of  the  Synod  of  the  Northwest  has 
begun  a  laudable  work  among  the  Winnebago  Indians,  in  Wis¬ 
consin.  Rev.  Jacob  Stucki  is  the  present  missionary.  The  Mission 
owns  a  tract  of  land  at  Falls  River,  the  improvements  consisting 
of  a  neat  chapel  and  a  missionary  residence. 

The  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  has  paid  to  the  Sheboygan 


Classis  in  aid  of  this  Mission  as  follows : 

December  13,  1878.  For  the  erection  of  the  dwelling . $  200 

May  4,  1881  to  March  12,  1886.  Towards  the  support  of  the 

Mission . .  1,300 


Total .  . $1,500 

The  Re-organization  of  the  Board. 


In  the  year  1873,  the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  met  for  re¬ 
organization  at  the  residence  of  Hon.  R.  F.  Kelker,  at  Harrisburg, 
Pa.  The  following  brethren  were  present :  Revs.  Thomas  S.  Johns¬ 
ton,  D.  D..  J.  H.  A.  Bomberger,  D.  D.,  W.  K.  Zieber,  Jacob  Dahl- 
mann,  Jr.  Elders  William  D.  Gross,  William  H.  Seibert  and  Ru¬ 
dolph  F.  Kelker. 

Members  absent :  Revs.  Herman  Rust,  David  Winters,  D.  D. 
Elder  G.  S.  Griffith  and  Rev.  Daniel  Zacharias,  D.  D.,  who  had 
died  a  few  weeks  before  the  meeting. 

Advisory  members  present :  Rev.  Benjamin  Schneider,  D.  D., 
missionary  of  Aintab,  Asia  Minor,  and  Rev.  J.  M.  Ferris,  D.  D., 
Corresponding  Secretary  of  the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions, 
Reformed  Church  of  America,  Revs.  B.  S.  Schneck,  D.  D.  and  W« 
H.  H.  Snyder. 


14 

This  was  a  very  significant  meeting,  for  it  marked  a  new  era 
in  our  foreign  mission  history.  The  brethren  then  laid  the  foun¬ 
dation  for  our  present  flourishing  Mission  in  Japan. 

The  Effect  of  the  Peace  Movement  on  our  Foreign 

Mission  Board. 

In  the  year  1878,  the  Spirit  of  peace  began  a  most  gracious 
work  in  our  General  Synod  at  Lancaster,  Pa.,  which,  among  other 
precious  results,  gave  a  new  impetus  to  the  Board  of  Foreign 
Missions.  It  was  a  happy  coincidence  that  in  the  same  church, 
where  the  Foreign  Board  was  originally  organized,  it  should  receive 
new  life  from  the  God  of  Missions. 

A  special  meeting  of  the  Board  was  held  May  22d,  1878,  during 
the  session  of  the  General  Synod.  In  obedience  to  the  instructions 
of  the  Synod,  the  President  of  the  Board,  Rev.  David  Van  Horne, 
D.  D.,  was  authorized  to  obtain  the  information  necessary  for  the 
proper  founding  of  a  Mission,  either  in  China  or  Japan.  There  was 
no  time  lost,  for  on  the  30th  day  of  September  following,  the  Rev. 
Ambrose  D.  Gring  was  chosen  as  our  first  Missionary  to  Japan.  This 
was  the  most  important  meeting  the  Board  had  ever  held.  From 
the  date  of  electing  a  Missionary,  the  contributions  began  to  flow 
into|the  treasury  with  such  constant  increase,  that  the  Treasurer 
is  able  to  report  about  $20,000  as  the  receipts  of  the  year,  ending 
with  August  31st,  1888. 


Our  Mission  in  Japan. 

During  the  last  ten  years,  the  Board  has  had  the  great  pleas¬ 
ure  of  sending  forth  four  male  and  three  female]'Missionaries. 
Their  names,  the  time  of  appointment,  the  time  of  departure,  and 
date  of  arrival  at  Yokokama  are  as  follows : 


Name. 

Rev.  Ambrose  D.  Gring  and  wife, 
Rev.  Jairus  P.  Moore  and  wife, 
Rev.  William  E.  Hoy, 

Miss  Lizzie  R.  Poorbaugh, 

Miss  Mary  B.  Ault, 

Rev.  David  B.  Schneder  and  wife, 
Miss  Emma  F.  Poorbaugh, 


Appointment. 

Sept.  30,  1878. 
March  13,  1883. 
April  21,  1885. 
April  21,  1885. 
April  21, 1885. 
July  7,  1887. 
Jan.  31, 1888. 


Departure. 

May,  1879. 
Sept.,  1883. 
Nov.  1885. 
June,  1886, 
June,  1886, 
Nov.  1887. 
June,  1888. 


Arrival. 

June  1,  1879. 
Oct.  1, 1883. 
Dec.  1,  188  i. 
July  i,  1886. 
July  1,1886. 
Dec.  21, 1887. 
July  9,  1888. 


Sketches  of  the  Missionaries 


Bev.  Ambrose  D.  Gring. 

He  was  born  December  8th,  1849.  His  father  the  Bev. 
Daniel  Gring,  was  a  minister  of  our  Church.  From  his  youth  he 
had  a  strong  desire  to  be  a  Missionary.  In  his  preparatory  course, 
he  ever  kept  the  ambition  of  his  life  before  him.  He  is  a  graduate 
of  Franklin  and  Marshall  College  at  Lancaster,  Pa.,  and  of  the 
Yale  Theological  Seminary. 

When  the  Board  issued  the  call  for  applicants,  he  with  three 
other  young  men  of  piety  and  ability  applied.  After  hours  of 


16 

earnest  and  prayerful  consideration,  the  lot  was  cast,  and  it  fell 
upon  him  to  go,  as  the  pioneer  of  our  Church,  to  Japan. 

The  Missionary  and  wife  spent  their  first  year  in  Japan,  in 
Yokohama,  where  by  the  aid  of  native  teachers,  he  began  the 
study  of  the  difficult  Japanese  language.  It  was  thought  best 


Mrs.  Hattie  L.  Gring. 


to  transfer  the  Missionary  to  Tokio,  the.  capital  city  of  this  inter¬ 
esting  nation. 

On 'the  26th  day  of  April  1880,  the  Board  purchased  a  fine  lot 
and  dwelling,  known  as  28  Tsukiji,  Tokio,,. for  $3,955.50.  After 


17 


Borne  necessary  repairs  were  made,  the  Missionary  took  possession 
of  the  same  the  following  June. 

The  fine  certificate,  presenting  the  portraits  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Gring  and  a  cut  of  the  Mission  house  met  with  a  hearty  reception 
in  our  Sunday  Schools,  realizing  a  clear  profit  of  $3,372.00  to  the 
Board,  more  than  five-sixths  of  the  cost  of  the  house. 

Whilst  Brother  Gring  was  acquiring  the  language,  he  applied 
himself  diligently  to  the  preparation  of  an  Eclectic  Dictionary  and 
to  the  translation  of  the  Heidelberg  Catechism,  into  the  Colloquial 
Japanese.  The  dictionary  was  published  by  himself,  and  the 
Catechism  by  the  Board,  with  the  hope  that  they  will  be  of  great 
advantage  in  the  future  work  of  the  Mission. 

On  May  11th,  1884,  he  organized  the  First  Church  in  connection 
with  our  branch  of  the  Reformed  Church  at  Nihon  Bashi,  in  the 
Mission  School  building,  purchased  by  the  donation  of  Elder 
Benjamin  Kuhns,  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  and  the  picture  of  which  adorns 
many  of  the  homes  of  our  people.  More  than  fifteen  hundred  dol¬ 
lars  were  realized  by  the  sale  of  these  pictures.  In  his  fifth  annual 
report  (1884)  Brother  Gring  writes:  “Our  work  is  going  on  now  very 
nicely,  indeed.  We  have  fixed  up  the  second  story  of  the  school 
building  for  a  primary  department  for  the  children.  We  have 
also  the  Chinese  department  for  older  persons.  I  have  Sunday 
School  there  every  Sunday  morning  and  preaching  in  the  evening. 
During  the  week  Mrs.  Gring  teaches  a  class  of  young  girls  fancy 
work,  after  which  she  closes  with  reading  of  the  Bible.” 

As  a  result  of  this  humble  beginning,  we  have  a  congregation 
which  promises  ere  long  to  support  itself,  besides  four  out-stations. 

On  account  of  the  continued  ill  health  of  Brother  Gring  and 
his  wife,  and  in  view  of  his  request  to  return  to  this  country,  the 
Board  granted  him  a  furlough,  accepting  which,  he  arrived  at  San 
Francisco  in  May,  1887.  He  is  still  with  us  visiting  the  churches 
in  the  interests  of  our  Mission  in  Japan.  We  bespeak  for  him 
a  hearty  welcome  from  our  people,  and  trust  that  success  may 
crown  his  efforts. 


18 


Rev.  Jairus  P.  Moore. 


As  soon  as  the  way  was  open,  the  Board  took  steps  to  send  out 
another  missionary,  and  on  the  13th  day  of  March,  1883,  Rev. 
Jairus  P.  Moore  was  chosen  to  labor  in  the  same  field  with  Brother 
Gring.  Brother  Moore  is  a  native  of  Bucks  County,  Pa.,  and  was 
born  November  27th,  1847.  He  is  a  graduate  of  Franklin  and 
Marshall  College,  Lancaster,  Pa.,  and  of  the  Theological  Seminary 
at  Tiffin,  Ohio.  He  had  six  years  experience  in  teaching,  as  also 
five  years  in  the  active  work  of  the  ministry.  Immediately  upon 
his  arrival  in  Japan,  he  took  a  lively  interest  in  the  study  of  the 


19 


Mrs.  Annie  Moore. 


Japanese  language,  and  to-day  he  is  a  very  acceptable  preacher 
of  the  Gospel  in  that  difficult  tongue. 

The  Bancho  Church  is  the  fruit  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moore’s 
zeal  in  the  work  of  the  Lord.  It  started  from  a  Sunday  evening 
prayer  meeting  at  their  residence,  No.  4  Tsukiji.  And  when  they 
moved  into  the  city,  it  moved  with  them,  and  for  one  year  after 
that,  its  only  place  of  meeting  was  the  dining  room  of  their  house 
at  Bancho.  This  congregation  has  since  built  a  fine  chapel,  and 
its  membership  embraces  some  excellent  families.  The  Church 
will  be  self-supporting  in  the  near  future. 


20 


When  the  call  came  for  Brother  Moore  to  remove  to  Sendai, 
he  was  loath  to  break  the  sacred  tie,  which  bound  him  to  an  inter¬ 
esting  people.  The  officers  of  the  congregation  sent  a  pleading 
letter  to  the  Board,  asking  a  continuance  of  the  services  of  their 
faithful  pastor,  but  the  Board  could  not  accede  to  their  wishes. 
The  work  is  carried  on  by  native  pastors. 

As  an  obedient  servant  of  Christ,  Brother  Moore  gave  heed  to 
the  voice  of  the  Board  and  went  to  Sendai.  He  had  hardly  been 
settled  at  Sendai,  before  the  finger  of  Providence  was  directing  him  to 
go  to  Yamagata.  For  the  second  time  within  a  single  year  he  took  up 
his  tent,  and  now  he  is  the  valued  principal  of  a  flourishing  English- 
Japanese  Boys’  School.  His  experience  as  a  teacher  has  been  a  great 
help  to  him  in  his  evangelistic  work.  He  has  already  laid  the 
foundation  for  a  large  congregation,  and  with  the  new  chapel,  he 
soon  expects  to  repeat  the  glorious  work  of  Bancho. 

Mrs.  Moore  is  an  invaluable  helper,  and  she  is  never  weary  in 
doing  good  to  the  poor  and  needy.  She  has  proven  herself  an 
angel  of  mercy  to  the  sick  and  infirm  in  the  hospitals  and  in  the 
homes  of  the  people. 

In  the  year  1884,  the  Board  issued  an  appeal  for  another 
missionary.  Mr.  William  E.  Hoy,  a  student  of  theology,  applied 
in  a  thrilling  letter.  He  had  already  made  up  his  mind  to  enter 
the  foreign  field,  at  an  Inter-Seminary  Alliance  held  at  Chicago,  in 
October,  1882.  In  his  letter  of  application  occur  these  touching 
words  :  “For  two  years,  the  vision  of  Macedonia  has  been  before 
me  as  a  calm  and  sacred  inspiration  to  prepare  myself  for  the 
Master’s  work.  It  is  plainly  my  duty  to  work  for  Christ  among  the 
heathen.  I  am  ready  to  be  sent  to  the  uttermost  parts  of  the 
earth.  For  me  there  can  be  no  peace  at  home,  for  God  is  directing 
me  further  on.”  Brother  Hoy  was  born  June  4th,  1858,  near 
Mifflinburg,  Union  County,  Pa.  He  is  a  graduate  of  Franklin  and 
Marshall  College  and  of  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Lancaster, 
Pa.  During  the  last  year  of  his  seminary  course,  he  instructed 


21 


REV.  WILLIAM  EDWIN  HOY. 

two  Japanese  students  in  Christian  truth.  He  was  sent  out  by 
the  Board  in  the  fall  of  1885.  At  this  time  a  strong  providential 
call  came  to  the  Mission  from  Sendai,  and  by  the  advice  of  the 
missionaries  in  the  field,  Brother  Hoy  settled  in  that  city.  He 
applied  himself  with  unusual  vigor  to  acquire  the  language  and  at 


22 


the  end  of  the  first  year,  on  the  anniversary  of  his  arrival  in  Japan, 
he  was  able  to  preach  his  first  sermon  in  Japanese. 

Seeing  the  need  of  Evangelists,  in  the  North  of  Japan,  and 
recognizing  the  necessity  of  a  Theological  Training  School,  he 
began  in  an  humble  way  to  instruct  young  men  of  piety  and  ability. 
In  this  manner  arose  the  Theological  Training  School  at  Sendai, 


Mrs.  Mary  B.  Hoy. 


which  is  one  of  the  most  important  branches  of  our  Mission  work 
in  Japan.  Brother  Hoy  is  the  Elijah  in  this  school  of  the  Prophets. 


Our  Lady  Missionaries 


Lizzie  R.  Poorbaugh.  Mary  B.  Ault.  Emma  F.  Poorbaugh. 

In  the  year  1884,  Mrs.  Hattie  L.  Gring,  the  wife  of  our  pioneer 
Missionary,  addressed  a  very  strong  appeal  to  the  Board  in  reference 
to  sending  out  two  lady  teachers.  This  appeal  was  made  public 
through  the  Church  papers,  and  several  ladies  applied,  but  owing 


23 


to  the  necessity  of  first  sending  forth  a  male  Missionary,  the  matter 
was  held  under  advisement,  in  the  hope  that  Providence  would 
open  the  way  for  the  realization  of  the  desire.  On  the  21st  of 
April,  1885,  the  Board  elected  two  lady  Missionaries— Miss  Lizzie 
R.  Poorbaugh  and  Miss  Mary  B.  Ault,  but  owing  to  a  lack  of 
sufficient  funds  in  the  Treasury,  they  did  not  sail  for  Japan  until 
in  June,  1886. 


Miss  Lizzie  R.  Poorbaugh. 


Miss  Lizzie  R.  Poorbaugh  was  born  in  Berlin,  Pa.,  December 
27th,  1854,  of  pious  parents.  Her  father  is  a  prominent  elder  in 
the  Church.  After  graduating  in  the  High  School,  at  York,  Pa., 
she  became  a  successful  teacher  in  the  public  schools. 

Miss  Mary  B.  Ault  was  born  in  Mechanicsburg,  Pa.,  Sept.  10th, 
1863,  her  father  was  the  late  Rev.  John  Ault,  a  minister  of  our  Church. 
She  is  a  graduate  of  the  Keystone  State  Normal  School,  Kutztown, 
Pa.  At  the  age  of  seven  years  her  father  took  her  to  hear  a  foreign 


24 


Missionary  deliver  a  lecture  in  the  Bethel  Church,  at  Mechanics- 
burg,  Pa.,  and  there  she  first  thought  of  becoming  a  foreign  Mis¬ 
sionary. 

These  two  ladies  were  pre-eminently  qualified  to  engage  in 
“Woman’s  Work”  among  the]*women’[of  Japan.  They  are  the 
founders  of  the  Girls’  School  at  Sendai,  have  been  very  success¬ 
ful,  and  are  fulfilling  in  every  respect  the  expectations  of  the  Board. 


Miss  Emma  F.  Poorbaugh. 


Miss  Ault  having  married  Kev.  W.  E.  Hoy,  on  the  27th 
of  December,  1887,  it  became  necessary  to  select  another  lady 
teacher.  The  lot  fell  on  Miss  Emma  F.  Poorbaugh,  a  sister  of  Miss 
Lizzie.  She  was  born  in  Berlin,  Pa.,  November  3rd,  1856,  and  like 
her  sister  received  a  good  education.  She  was  elected  January 
31st,  1888,  and  sailed  from  her  native  land  the  following  June,  to 
join  her  sister  in  her  noble  work  at  Sendai.  The  Board  entertains 
every  confidence  in  the  result  of  the  joint  labors  of  these  sisters. 

The  removal^of  Brother  Moore  to  Yamagata  and  the  return 


25 

of  Brother  Gring  to  America,  made  the  appointment  of  a  fourth 
male  Missionary  a  necessity.  Accordingly  at  a  meeting  of  the  Board 
held  July  6th,  1887,  arrangements  were  made  to  appoint  the  Rev. 
David  B.  Schneder,  who  soon  thereafter  accepted  the  solemn  call. 

Brother  Schneder  was  born  at  Bowmansville,  Lancaster  County, 
Pa.,  March  23rd,  1857.  He  is  a  graduate  of  Franklin  and  Mar¬ 
shall  College,  and  of  the  Theological  Seminary,  at  Lancaster, 


Rev.  David  B.  Schneder. 


Pa.  He  had  been  an  efficient  pastor  prior  to  his  appointment  as 
Missionary.  His  ripe  scholarship  and  pastoral  experience  have 
been  very  helpful  to  him  in  his  new  work.  He  is  making  rapid 
progress  in  the  study  of  the  language,  and  is  wielding  a  good  influ¬ 
ence  in  the  Theological  Training  School  at  Sendai,  where  he  is 
assisting  Rev.  W.  E.  Hoy. 

Mrs.  Schneder  has  already  shown  a  very  commendable  in¬ 
terest  in  the  spiritual  welfare  of  the  women  of  that  city. 


26 


Our  Harvest  in  Japan. 

The  statisticaljtable  of  the  Mission  for  the  fiscal  year  ending 
June  1st,  1888,  given  below,  furnishes  a  bird’s  eye  view  of  the  work 
done  by  our  faithful  band  of  workers.  Truly  the  Lord  of  the 
harvest  has  been  smiling  upon  their  efforts  to  save  souls.  And 
the  half  has  not  been  told.  Back  of  these  cold  figures  are  the 
throbbing  hearts  of  thankful  men,  women  and  children  who 
greatly  rejoice  that  Jesus  dwells  in  them — “the  hope  of  glory.” 


Mrs.  Anna  M.  Schneder. 


These  cheerful  tidings  of  the  marvelous  success  of  our  dear 
brethren  and  sisters  in  that  beautiful  land  should  fill  us  with  fresh 
zeal  and  new  courage.  In  behalf  of  this  great  work,  the  Board 
kindly  asks  for  the  earnest  prayers,  the  warm  sympathy  and  the 
liberal  support  of  all  the  Churches.  Now  is  the  golden  opportu¬ 
nity  to  bring  that  interesting  and  promising  people  out  of  the 
regions  of  darkness  and  death  into  the  light  and  life  of  Jesus 


27 

Christ.  Let  the  prayers  and  alms  of  our  dear  Zion  in  this  “Year 
of  Jubilee,”  “come  up  for  a  memorial  before  the  Lord.” 

God  speed  the  day,  when  Japan  will  be  a  Christian  Nation ! 


The  Statistics. 


Statistical  Report. 

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28 


Officers  of  the  Board. 

1838-1888. 


Presidents. 

Rev.  Diedrich  Willers,  D.  D. 

Rev.  Elias  Heiner,  D.  D. 

Rev.  Bernard  C.  Wolff,  D.  D. 
Rev.  Thomas  S.  Johnston,  D.  D. 
Rev.  Charles  H.  Leinbach,  D.  D. 
Rev.  David  VanHorne,  D.  D. 
Rev.  Clement  Z.  Weizer,  D.  D. 
Rev.  Elias  Heiner,  D.  D. 

Corresponding  Secretaries. 

Rev.  Bernard  C.  Wolff,  D.  D. 
Rev.  Benjamin  Bausman,  D.  D. 
Rev.  Nicholas  Gehr,  D.  D. 

Rev.  Clement  Z.  Weiser,  D.  D. 


Vice  Presidents. 

Rev.  Samuel  Gutelius. 

Rev.  Andrew  P.  Frieze. 

Rev.  J.  H.  A.  Bomberger,  D.  D. 
Rev.  Thomas  G.  Apple,  D.  D. 
Rev.  Charles  H.  Leinbach,  D.  D. 
Rev.  Clement  Z.  Weiser,  D.  D. 
Rev.  Nicholas  Gehr,  D.  D. 

Recording  Secretaries. 

Rev.  John  Cares. 

Rev.  Daniel  Ziegler. 

Rev.  Franklin  W.  Kremer,  D.  D. 
Rev.  Thomas  S.  Johnston,  D.  D. 


Secretaries. 

Rev.  Thomas  S.  Johnston,  D.  D. 
Rev.  Allen  R.  Bartholomew. 


Treasurers. 

Elder  John  J.  Mayer. 
Elder  Jacob  Besore. 

Rev.  Elias  Heiner,  D.  D. 
Elder  Rudolph  F.  Kelker. 
Elder  Thomas  J.  Craig. 
Elder  Rudolph  F.  Kelker. 


29 

Rev.  Elias  Heiner,  D.  D.,  of  Baltimore,  Md.,  was  an  officer  of 
the  Board  from  its  beginning,  in  1838,  until  his  death,  in  1863, — a 
period  of  twenty-five  years.  He_was  among  the  most  active  minis¬ 
ters  of  our  Church  in  the  organization  of  the  Foreign  Missionary 
work  and  for  the  space ;of  twenty  years  he  had  nearly  the  entire 
management  of  the  society  in  his  hands,  filling  both  the  offices  of 


Rev.  Elias  Heiner,  D.  D.,  An  Officer  of  the  Board  for 

Twenty-Five  Years. 

President  and  Treasurer.  One  of  the  last  papers  that  in  all  proba¬ 
bility,  he  ever  drew  up,  was  the  annual  report  of  the  society,  which 
was  read  a  few  days  after  his  death  before  the  Synod  at  its  meeting 
in  Carlisle,  Pa.,  in  October,  1863.  He  took  a  deep  interest  in  the 
work  and  gave  to  its  support  his  'prayers  and  special  efforts  to 
the  last  hour  of  his  life. 

Elder  Rudolph  F.  Kelker,  the  venerable  Treasurer  of  the 
Board,  is  the  only  link  that  unites  the  past J with  the  present.  He 


30 


became  the  successor  of  Rev.  Elias  Heiner,  D.  D.,  in  October,  1863, 
and  has  been  serving  the  Church  as  treasurer,  (save  three  years, 
1875,  76  and  77),  for  the  period  of  twenty-two  years.  His  zeal  and 
fidelity  in  the  Foreign  Mission  work,  so  dear  to  his  loving  heart,  are 


Hon.  Rudolph  F.  Kelker,  Our  Present  Treasurer. 

well  known  to  the  Church,  and  what  Father  Heiner  was  to  the 
Mission  at  Aintab,  that  Father  Kelker  is  to  the  Mission  in  Japan. 

Among  the  many  faithful  laborers  of  the  Board,  who  have 
been  called  to  their  reward,  no  one  wears  a  brighter  crown  than 


31 


our  now  sainted  Secretary,  the  Eev.  Thomas  S.  Johnston,  D.  D., 
who  literally  died  at  the  post  of  duty.  His  minute  book  is  a  mar¬ 
vel  of  accuracy ;  his  letters  to  the  Missionaries  on  the  field  full  of 
pathos  and  evincing  a  fatherly  interest  in  their  personal  welfare  as 


Eev.  Thomas  S.  Johnston,  D.  D.,  Our  Late  Secretary. 


well  as  in  the  cause  of  Missions.  His  perceptions  were  clear,  his 
work  methodical,  his  demeanor  firm  and  yet  loving  and  gentle. 

m 

It  is  a  touching  and  beautiful  coincidence  that  his  dying 
blessing  was  bestowed  upon  one  who  has  been  chosen  by  the  Board 
to  wear  his  mantle  and  to  take  up  the  work  that  he  laid  down. 


32 

The  brother  thus  blessed  was  not  at  that  time  a  member  of  the 
Board,  but  chosen  by  them  to  fill  the  vacancy,  unaware  of  the 
incident  above  mentioned.  Dr.  Johnston  was  a  member  of  the 
Board  for  fifteen  years.  He  died  at  his  residence  in  Lebanon,  Pa., 
June  11th,  1887. 

i 

I 

Rev.  David  Van  Horne,  D.  D.,  who  presided  over  the  Board 
for  ten  years  with  credit  to  himself  and  profit  to  the  Church,  having 
been  elected  to  the  presidency  of  the  Theological  Seminary  of  the 
Reformed  Church,  at  Tiffin,  Ohio,  felt  it  necessary  to  resign  the 
presidency  and  also  his  membership  of  the  Board.  This  occasioned 
much  regret.  His  services  were  of  a  character  that  showed  zeal 
and  efficiency,  greatly  endearing  him  to  the  Board  and  the  Mis¬ 
sionaries. 


MEMORANDA. 

The  first  moneys  were  received  for  Foreign  Missions  in  our 
Church  Oct.  23rd,  1838,  from  “The  Sunday  School  Educational  and 
Missionary  Society  for  Foreign  Missions/’  of  the  German  Reformed 
Church,  Trenton,  N.  J.,  per  pastor  Rev.  John  H.  Schmaltz,  $4.00, 
and  from  the  Rev.  D.  Hertz,  pastor  of  the  Ephrata  Reformed 
charge,  Lancaster  County,  Pa.,  $7.31L 


The  first  money  paid  over  by  our  Church  to  the  American 
Board  was  to  Rev.  Armstrong,  one  of  its  Corresponding  Secretaries, 
October  13th,  1840,  $1000. 

The  Board  has  issued  numerous  pamphlets,  tracts  and  articles 
besides  the  elegant  lithographic  pictures  of  the  Mission  House  at 
Tokio,  the  place  of  worship  at  Nihon  Bashi,  and  the  Girl’s  School 
at  Sendai.  3 

The  last  money  paid  to  the  American  Board  by  our  Church, 
was  October  9th,  1865. 


Por  reasons  satisfactory  to  the  Board,  the  28  Tsukiji  property 
was  sold  on  the  14th  day  of  July,  1888,  for  $3,000,  (Mexican 
currency.)  The  sale  of  the  Mission  house  will  in  no  wise  interfere 
with  our  work  in  and  around  Tokio.  The  Churches  at  Bancho  and 
Nihon  Bashi  will  remain  as  heretofore  under  the  care  of  the  Mission 
who  in  their  last  report  state  that  they  think  they  will  need  no 
financial  support  after  this  year.  The  money  realized  from  the 
Sale  of  the  Tokio  house  will  be  used  in  the  erection  of  the  buildings 
at  Sendai. 


28  Tsukiji  Property. 


New  Buildings  at  Sendai. 

The  Girls’  School  building  is  in  course  of  erection,  and  the 
tbkchers  expect  to  occupy  it  by  next  Christmas. 


34 


The  Board  is  also  erecting  two  dwellings,  one  for  the  lady- 
teachers  and  the  other  for  Missionary  Hoy.  All  of  these  buildings 
are  being  erected  in  the  centre  of  Sendai,  on  a  lot  comprising  two 
and  a  quarter  acres  of  ground,  purchased  for  $1213.17,  toward  which 
the  Rev.  J.  I.  Swander,  D.  D.,  and  his  estimable  wife  of  Fremont, 
Ohio,  generously  contributed  the  sum  of  1100.00. 

These  improvements,  which  will  cost  about  $12,000,  will  be  an 
ornament  to  the  city  and  an  honor  to  the  Reformed  Church.  Elder 
Benjamin  Kuhns,  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  has  supplemented  the  donation 
of  Rev.  Dr.  Swander  by  forwarding  at  his  own  expense  school  desks 
and  chairs  of  the  latest  and  most  beautiful  designs,  at  a  cost  of  $706. 


Support  of  Pupils. 

The  Board  encourages  the  support  of  pupils  either  in  the  Theo¬ 
logical  Training  School  or  in  the  Girls’  School  by  Societies,  Sunday 
Schools  or  individuals  in  the  Church.  It  will  require  a  contribution 
of  $60  per  annum,  payable  in  half-yearly  installments  of  $30  each 
in  advance.  Parties  can  receive  all  necessary  information  from 
the  Secretary  of  the  Board,  Rev.  Allen  R.  Bartholomew,  Pottsville, 
Penna. 


Present  Address  of  the  Missionaries. 

Rev.  Ambrose  D.  Gring,  No.  725  Marietta  avenue,  Lancaster,  Pa. 
Rev.  J.  P.  Moore,  Motokoenchi  Yamagata,  Japan. 

Rev.  W.  E.  Hoy,  75JEIigashi  Sambancho,  Sendai,  Japan. 

Rev.  D.  B.  Schneder,  16  Minami  Machi  Dori,  Sendai,  Japan. 
Miss  Lizzie  R.  Poorbaugh,  35  Higashi  Yobancho,  Sendai,  Japan- 
Miss  Emma  F.  Poorbaugh,  35  Higashi  Yobancho,  Sendai,  Japan. 


Incorporation  of  the  Board. 

Upon  the  petition  dated  April  4th,  1881,  of  Rev.  David  Van 
Horne,  D.  D.,  Rev.  Charles  H.  Leinbach,  D.  D.,  Rev.  Thomas  S. 
Johnston,  D.  D.,  and  Elders  Rudolph  F.  Kelker  and  William  H. 


35 


Seibert,  (made  in  pursuance  of  the  previous  instructions  of  the 
Board),  to  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  of  Dauphin  County,  Penn, 
sylvania,  the  said  Board  were  incorporated  by  that  Court  on  the 
25th  of  April,  1881,  as  “ The  Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign 
Missions  of  the  Reformed  Church  in  the  United  States.” 

The  names  of  the  Commissioners  then  incorporated  were  as 
follows : 


Rev.  David  Van  Horne,  D.  D.,  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  Rev.  Charles 
H.  Leinbach,  D.  D.,  near  Myerstown,  Pa.,  Rev.  Thomas  S.  Johns¬ 
ton,  D.  D.,  Lebanon,  Pa.,  Rev.  Clement  Z.  Weiser,  D.  D.,  East 
Greenville,  Pa.,  Rev.  Benjamin  Bausman,  D.  D.,  Reading,  Pa.,  Rev. 
J.  H.  A.  Bomberger,  D.  D.,  Collegeville,  Pa.,  Rev.  Nicholas  Gehr, 
D.  D.,  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  Rev.  J.  W.  Santee,  D.  D.,  Cavetown,  Ma¬ 
ryland,  Rudolph  F.  Kelker,  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  William  H.  Seibert, 
Harrisburg,  Pa.,  Goldsborough  S.  Griffith,  Baltimore,  Maryland, 
George  Gelbach,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 


Members  of  the  Board  1888. 


Rev.  Clement  Z.  Weiser,  D.  D. 
Rev.  Allen  R.  Bartholomew, 
Rev.  Samuel  G.  Wagner,  D.  D. 
Rev.  Jacob  Dahlmann,  D.  D., 
Elder  Rudolph  F.  Kelker, 
Elder  Goldsboro  S.  Griffith, 


Rev.  Nicholas  Gehr,  D.  D., 

Rev.  Benjamin  Bausman,  D.  D 
Rev.  A.  Carl  Whitmer, 

Rev.  John  H.  Prugh, 

Elder  William  H.  Seibert, 

Elder  Benjamin  Kuhns. 


Present  Officers  of  the  Board. 


President — Rev.  C.  Z.  Weiser,  D.  D.,  East  Greenville,  Mont¬ 
gomery  County,  Pa. 

Secretary — Rev.  Allen  R.  Bartholomew,  Pottsville,  Pa. 

Treasurer — Hon.  Rudolph  F.  Kelker,  Harrisburg,  Pa. 

Legacies. 

All  Legacies  intended  for  the  use  of  the  Board  should  be  in 
the  following  form,  “I  give,  devise  and  bequeath  to  The  Board  of 
Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions  of  the  Reformed  Church  in  the 
United  States ”  the  sum  of . Dollars. 


30 

REV.  OSH1KAWA. 


The  success  of  our  work  in  Tokio  and  in  the  North  of  Japan, 
is  largely  due  to  the  ability  and  zeal  of  Our  native  ministers  andt 
evangelists,  of  whom  Rev.  Oshikawa  deserves  special  mention. 

He  is  the  General  Superintendent  of  our  Educational  and 
Evangelistic  work.  As  a  preacher  and  leader  he  has  no  superior 
in  the  Empire,  and  our  Missionaries  highly  appreciate  his  invalua¬ 
ble  help. 


The  Benediction. 

The  peace  of  God,  which  passeth  all  understanding,  keep 
your  hearts  and  minds  in  the  knowledge  and  love  of  God,  and  of 
His  Son  Jesus  Christ,  our  Lord ;  and  the  blessing  of  God  Almighty, 
the  Father,  the  Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  be  amongst  you,  and  re* 
main  with  you  always.  Amen. 


GoRtmae;  feus 


Members  of  the  Board. 


1 888.  °^o 

REV.  CLEMENT  Z.  WEISER,  D.  D., 
REV.  NICHOLAS  GEHR,  D.  D., 

REV.  ALLEN  R.  BARTHOLOMEW, 
REV.  BENJAMIN  BAUSMAN,  D.  D., 
REV.  SAMUEL  G.  WAGNER,  D.  D., 
REV.  A.  CARL  WHITMER, 

REV.  JACOB  DAHLMANN,  D.  D., 
REV.  JOHN  H.  PRUGH. 

ELDER  RUDOLPH  F.  KELKER, 
ELDER  WILLIAM  H.  SEIBERT, 
ELDER  GOLDSBORO  S.  GRIFFITH, 
ELDER  BENJAMIN  KUHNS. 


THE  PROMISE. 

“Ask  of  me,  and  I  shall  give  thee  the  heathen  for  thine 
inheritance,  and  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth  for  thy 
possession.” 


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